''It is not logical, Jim.'' Those word were so memorably uttered to Star Trek's Capt.James Kirk by his colleague Dr. Spock, played by actor Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy passed away last week at the age of 83. A talented actor, director, poet, photographer and all around good guy known mostly for his role in the original Star ...

All babies in the U.S. have a newborn blood screen. Newborn screens are
run by each state. All states test for sickle cell, metabolic, endocrine
disorders and nearly all screen for cystic fibrosis (CF). Other states
may choose to test for more disease processes in the newborn blood
screens. Early diagnosis allows parents ...

Finally! New York has joined the rest of the United States in approving a law that allows students to carry and self-administer epinephrine auto-injectors and asthma medication. With this, now all 50 states have some kind of right for students affected by asthma and allergies to protect themselves. The next issue is allowing schools to stock ...

Pediatric respiratory therapists deal with various diseases, but one stands out that is challenging, can take your breath away, and can be an emotional roller coaster: Cystic Fibrosis (CF). There are various genetic mutations and aspects to this disease. There are many updates occurring and I learned some of these new updates at a ...

Recently, I engaged in a conversation about direct access physicians, not realizing the vociferousness of the opposition to doctors who opt out of Medicare. However, as a respiratory patient advocate, I do not shy away from a debate if the subject is improving patient care. Even though I do not have the answers, I believe we should ...

The first carpet mill opened in Philadelphia in 1791. Carpets were made of either wool or cotton until nylon was developed in the 1950s. Nylon soon dominated the market because it was much less expensive than natural fibers. In 1965, manufacturers introduced polyester carpeting, then olefin, rayon and acrylics. Today, the vast majority ...

Could you unknowingly be aiding and abetting your patient's asthma triggers simply by labeling them as such? New research suggests that just might be the case when it comes to odor-triggered asthma. Researchers at the Monell Center have found ''that simply believing that an odor is potentially harmful can increase airway inflammation in asthmatics ...

Mouse.
What do you think of when you hear the word? You may think of the most famous mouse - Mickey. Or you may think of a cute little field mouse, like the ones I had to deal with in my former state of Illinois. You might think about running away if you saw one. You could think of a pet or just a plain dirty rodent. One word can bring up so ...

This week, I was teaching clinicals for one of the local community colleges. My students were surprised by all the syndromes we come across in the pediatric world. I will admit I am the product of the times. I am used to electronic journals and having access to Google. I truly believe Google is your friend in pediatrics. I cannot ...

Well, talking to people, it appears allergy season is here. I know we have talked about it before, even recently, but this time of year is when respiratory therapists can really shine. Not only can allergies lead to hospitalizations, but they also afford us the opportunity to reach out to our communities in several ways. Many ...